Seven Deadly Sins

I love playing chess. Online and OTB.

But I somehow avoid participating in OTB tournaments!

I get nervous on gameday. Concerned about getting killed in the opening, feeling tired etc...

My pulse is high when the clock starts and I am afraid of losing the game.

I don't focus, my thinking process is without system and I start playing hope chess. I don't enjoy the game!

My current ELO is just below 1800 (though I think my strength is lover than that).

I was thinking if Seven Deadly Sins has some good advice, or should I look elsewhere for help? :)

Who is seven deadly sins?the ones are know are gluttony,lust etc.i also know seven steps of kung-fu..nway.fil us in.

How about stop worrying about whether you are going to lose, mess up or look stupid etc.  Because you will-we all do-its just that some of us recover from our stupidity and or learn more from our stupidity. 

Have fun stupid ;p. 

I wish it would be so easy to stop worrying :)

Seven Deadly Sins is a book:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Seven-Deadly-Chess-Sins/dp/1901983366/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347540114&sr=8-1&keywords=seven+deadly+sins+chess

i think you mean the jonathan rowson book ?? i don't know if a book can help you... if one author can, maybe,  help it is Jeremy Silman... maybe you can take his humor to the tournament and relax more...

and he gives some good tips on psycology in "the amateurs mind" i've read.

i heard he has a large chapter on chess-psychology in his new edition of reasses your chess...  maybe someone who has read read it can comment.

i am shure it is fun to read but above my level

http://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/chess-and-stress3

go to post 11.  Those are my thoughts.  Seriously, I understand its difficult, but this mentality truly works wonders

i play in a chess cafe and am getting used playing OTB against different people... sometimes i go to the local chess-club. i find it very strange to be in a silent room with lots of people.. and sometimes people standing behind me...  i have to get used to this before i would consider playing a tournament..  maybe it would help if you can join a club and play long games regularly OTB???

by the way i am http://www.chess.com/members/view/j-pax using my brothers computer

Don't worry about the result ,just play move by move,Concentrate in the game ,in the position, in make a plan ,on improve your pieces You will be to busy to worry about the game and the result.

Imagine that their king is naked. 

On a more serious note, you should keep in mind that they are probably just as nervous about losing to you.

Thanks for the many good advices.

I normally play about 15 otb games a year. 1 tournament in 7 weeks with a game each week and then for my team in my chessclub. I think I should start playing at least one tournament more and get more comfortable with the game. Maybe it is simply because my otb routine is weak.

My big problem is that I am too goaloriented. I just signed up for the 7 round tournament and is already thinking about rating points and my chances in the tournament.

I think I will start on some kind of mental preparing. Studying some games with a real board to get the OTB feeling, imagine that I am playing etc.

You can? How?

Btw. I actually began reading Chess for Zebras yesterday. I like his writing style.